Unemployment slipped a little in October for Starke County, but still remains low compared to previous reports. In all, 77 counties saw a slide in unemployment in October.
Starke County had an October unemployment rate of 6.1 percent. The percentage fell two points in October. Starke County is ranked 15th in the state.
Money has been earmarked for the construction of a shell building in the Knox Industrial Park.
Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver told the Knox City Council members last night that companies are looking for existing structures to move right into to start up their businesses. Weaver said companies don’t want to have to go through the process of building the site with infrastructure, permitting and zoning issues. They want to have a building that they can customize to their needs and begin their business right away.
A man was sentenced to probation in a hearing in Starke Circuit Court Tuesday afternoon.
William Jones pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to a charge of domestic battery as a Class D felony. Judge Kim Hall accepted the plea agreement and Jones was sentenced to 18 months in the Indiana Department of Corrections with the entire sentence suspended to be served on probation. Jones must pay a $50 domestic violence fee along with court costs.
The search for a Town Manager in Culver continues. At the last meeting, Culver officials extended the search for a town manager until Dec. 1st. The town has been working with consultant Mitch Ripley to find a suitable candidate. Continue reading
The employees in the government offices in Pulaski County are collecting food for the Pulaski County Human Services Food Pantry.
Auditor Shelia Garling asked the commissioners for permission to place boxes in the courthouse to collect food for those who are less fortunate this holiday season. A box is located in the courthouse and in the Pulaski County Justice Center.
If you have a donation you’d like to drop off, get those in today by the end of the day to help someone in need at either location. Non-perishable food items are welcome, as well as soaps, deodorant, shampoos, and diapers.
The Marshall County Metronet project is drawing to a close.
The commissioners last week approved a payment agreement between the county and the City of Plymouth for shared conduit installation. The county is to pay half of the cost of the installation and handholds on Lincolnway to State Road 17 on Pioneer Drive, Pioneer Drive to Overmyer Drive and three lateral connections to the three county buildings for a total cost of $37,513.76. The city will pay the same cost for those installation costs.
Pulaski County Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer brought forth the idea of a redevelopment commission to the county commissioners during their recent meeting.
Origer explained that there are opportunities the county could be missing out on without a redevelopment commission.
“It allows basically two important things that we cannot do right now,” said Origer. “If ever a town or the county wanted to buy real estate for a downtown revitalization effort because they have absentee owners who are not making buildings usable for potential tenants, the RDC could much more easily purchase that and put any work into it as necessary. They can sell it or lease it to tenants than a municipal entity on its own could. The other thing is setting up TIF Districts.”
Federal, state and local government offices are all closed tomorrow in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Many are also closed on Friday, so keep that in mind if you’ve got business to tend. Your best bet is to call first. In Knox, Thursday’s trash pickup route will be run on Friday instead this week. Also, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles branches that are normally open on Fridays will be closed this week in observance of the holiday. Mail will not be delivered tomorrow, but normal delivery schedules will resume Friday.
Hitting the road this holiday weekend will not put as big a pinch on your pocketbook. Gas prices are at their lowest level in five years, according to AAA Hoosier Motor Club. That’s good news for the 43.1 million travelers planning to drive more than 50 miles from home. That’s the highest projected travel volume since 2007. Continue reading
People traveling this week for Thanksgiving will see sizeable savings in fuel costs. Prices that had been on the decline crept up to $2.99 a gallon in some areas over the last couple of days. Continue reading
Hoosier motorists will have a holiday from road construction this Thanksgiving weekend. INDOT spokesman Will Wingfield tells WKVI News remaining construction projects will pull back barrels and barricades to the greatest extent possible starting at noon today and continuing through sunrise on Monday. Continue reading
The holiday season officially gets underway this Friday at the annual Christmas Fest at Hensler Nursery in Hamlet. Since 1953 Hensler Nursery has held this holiday tradition for families and tourists. Continue reading
The annual Knox Christmas tree lighting ceremony is set for this Sunday, Nov. 30. The Knox Fire Department will be escorting Santa down Main Street to the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center at 5:00 p.m. CT. While awaiting the arrival of Santa the crowd will gather outside the community center and the Starke County Choralairs will sing carols. Continue reading
Americans will consume an estimated 736 million pounds of turkey tomorrow, according to the National Turkey Federation. Preparation methods vary and are largely a matter of personal preference. One that’s gained tremendous popularity in recent years is deep frying. Experts from the Butterball Turkey Tip Line offer suggestions to do so safely. Continue reading
A trial date has been set in the case of a man who is accused of murdering his estranged wife.
Gary Chavez appeared for a status hearing in Starke Circuit Court on Monday afternoon with his attorneys, Leslie Baker and Dave Welter. Starke County Prosecutor Nicholas Bourff indicated that there were some discovery issues with several pieces of evidence. Dave Welter told the judge that some medical reports are also needed and Chavez may require another surgery.
The intersection of Culver Road and Klockner Drive will not reopen this week as originally scheduled. The contractor advises WKVI News paving has been delayed due to weather and is now scheduled for early next week. The intersection is now set to reopen on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Continue reading
Curtis DeVries was sentenced Monday afternoon in Starke Circuit Court.
A 12-member jury found Curtis DeVries not guilty on a charge of burglary, but he was found guilty on a lesser included offense of residential entry, a Class D felony. The jury also found DeVries guilty on a charge of criminal mischief as a Class A misdemeanor. The verdicts came in on Friday, Oct. 24.
Judge Kim Hall told DeVries Monday that he has a large drinking problem that he needs to get under control. Judge Hall stated that if he hadn’t have consumed such a large amount of alcohol on the night of this event, he wouldn’t be in court facing a sentence.
A good employment record and a commitment to help his mother with Alzheimers were just a couple of factors in Russell Hendron’s favor when it came to his sentencing hearing in Starke Circuit Court.
Hendron was charged with maintaining a common nuisance and possession of methamphetamine. Hendron took the stand where he explained that he had held at position at a North Judson business for three decades. He left his long-time employment to care for his mother who moved into his home after being diagnosed with Alzheimers. He said that he’s been working out of his home attempting to make ends meet. He accepted that fact that what he did was wrong and is ready to put this behind him.
Construction for Starke/Pulaski Habitat for Humanity’s fifth home is projected to be finished next month. Starke/Pulaski Habitat for Humanity President Steve Morrison says this house was built in record time compared to the other four. Continue reading
A second bomb threat in as many weeks was reported today at the Culver Community Middle and High School building. Superintendent Dr. Vicki McGuire tells WKVI News a message was left on the restroom wall stating there was a bomb in the building. Continue reading
